Cotton-chopper.



No. 355.995.` PATENTBD .JUNE 4, 1907.

s. STALLINGE.

COTTON CHOPPER.

APPLIoATIoN FILED 0011.30. 1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

COTTON-SHOPPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1907.

Application led October 30, 1906. Serial No. 341,262.

To CLZWZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL STALLINGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fountain Inn, in the county of Greenville, State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton- Ohoppers; and I do hereby declare-the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to cotton choppers and more generally to that vtype provided with a transverselyT reciprocatory hoe driven from the traction wheel.

The particular improvements consist in the provision of a roller upon the crank wheel of the main drive shaft of the machine adapted to contact with and actuate a rock shaft disposed above the main drive shaft and connected with the hoe for imparting an independent vertical movement to the latter upon its return or backward stroke, in order to prevent the hoe from forcing down the cotton.

The invention further consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement df parts all as hereinafter fully described, specifically claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved cotton chopper. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and showing the connection between the crank wheel of the main drive shaft, the pitman and hoe shaft. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the rock shaft and its lever attachment.

Like parts are designated by corresponding reference numerals in the several views.

In Fig. 1 part of the side sill of the frame is broken away to show the gear and crank wheel carried by the main drive shaft.

ReferringA more particularly to the drawings the machine is shown as comprising an open frame including side sills 5 and end sills 6, an axle 7 journaled in the side sills and a traction wheel 8 carried by the axle. Formed integral upon one face of the traction wheel is a gear 9. It is to be understood however, that this gear may be formed separately from a traction wheel and mounted upon the axle if preferred.

Secured to the inner face of one of the side sills is a pair of brackets 10 in which is journaled the main drive shaft 11 of the machine, carrying a beveled pinion 12, its forward end in mesh with gear 9 and a crank wheel 13 secured to its opposite end and provided with a crank pin 14 carrying a roller 15.

Mounted upon the frame and transversely disposed with respect thereto is a pair of spaced uprights 16, the top beams 17 of which extend beyond the frame at one Side' thereof as shown. The -standards are arranged in spaced relation with respect to each other and the vertical beams thereof carrying upon one side sill of the frame have secured thereto a pair of bearings 18 in which is journaled a rock shaft 19 disposed transversely of said vertical beams and having its rear end 20 bent downwardly into the path of the roller 15 carried by the crank pin 14. Said rock shaft is provided with `al lever 21 having a hollow sleeve 22 through which the rock shaft passes, the sleeve and rock shaft being fixedly connected in any preferred manner. The free end of the lever is connected by a link 23 with the lower end of a bell crank lever 24, the upper member of which is bifurcated at its ends, the pivot bolt 25 connecting the members of the bell crank lever passing through the lower ears of the upper member and through the outer end of the lower member fitting between the said ears.

J ournaled in the opposite ends of the standard tops is transversely disposed a shaft 26 having a depending portion 27 intermediate its ends forming a crank and having play in the space between the standards. The rear end of shaft 26 is likewise bent to form a second crank 28 to which is secured the upper end of a pitman 29 the lower end of which is secured to the pin 14 carried by the crank wheel 13.

Pivotally connected intermediate its ends with the intermediate crank portion 27 of shaft 6 is a hoe 30, the lower end of which carries the usual blade 31 while its upper end is pivotally mounted between the upper ears of the upper member of the bell crank lever above referred to, the hoe being provided on its under face with a depending strap eye in which the crank portion 27 is engaged.

To maintain the lever 21 normally in its operative position, a retractile spring 32 is secured at one end to said lever intermediate the end thereof and at its other end to the under face of the adjacent side sill.

Fromthe foregoing it will be understood IOO IIO

that when the machine is moved forwardly the rotation of the traction wheel will affect the rotation of the main drive shaft through the medium of the intermeshing gears above described, thus causing the hoe to-be reciprocated transversely of the frame in the space between the standards. The pinion and roller carried by the crank wheel 13 of the main drive shaft are so disposed however that upon the return stroke of the hoe the roller will contact with the depending rend of the rock shaft and actuate the latter, thus raising the lever carried by the rock shaft which in turn raises the lower member of the bell crank` lever elevating the blade of the hoe. The spring connected to the rock shaft lever restoring the latter and its connections to their normal or lowered position when the roller has passed from engagement with the depending end of the rock shaft.

In order to limit the downward movement of the lower member of the bell crank lever, a transverse strap 33 is secured to the under Aface of the cross beams of the standards, the free end of the lower member of the bell crank lever being normally in contact with said strap, which therefore acts as a stop and prevents displacement of the bell crank lever.

The machine frame is provided with the usual braced handles 34, and one side4 sill of the frame has secured thereto a furrowcloser `35 of the customary type.

.mounted therewithin, of a gear located upon the wheel axle 5 a pair of vertical standards mounted upon the frame in spaced relation with each other g a transverse shaft j ournaled upon said standards having a crank portion intermediate its ends adapted for movement in the space between said standards, said shaft extending beyond said standards at one end, and having a second crank formed on said extension a shaft mounted upon the inner face of one of the side members of said frame and having a gear secured to one end in mesh with' said first mentioned gear and a crank wheel secured to its opposite end and including a pin; a pitman connecting said pin and extended crank end of said transverse shaft; and a hoe connected intermediate its ends to the intermediate crank portion of said transverse shaft and adapted to be reciprocated transversely of said frame upon movement of said shaft.

2. A cotton chopper comprising in combination with an open frame and a traction wheel mounted therewithin, a pair of spaced vertical standards mounted upon the frame and disposed transversely with respect there to; a shaft mounted upon the inner face of one of the side membersof the frame means for driving said shaft from said traction wheel; a crank wheel secured'to one end of said shaftga transversely reciprocatory hoe mounted intermediate its ends between said standards; a driving connection between said hoe and crank wheel for actuating the former; a rock shaft secured transversely between said standards above said iirst mentioned shaft; a connection between the rear end of said hoe and said rock shaft; and means car lried by saidcrank wheel for actuating said rock shaft imparting an independent upward movement of said hoe upon its backward stroke.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

sAi/IUEL sTALLrNGE@ Vitnesses G. W. BUSSY,

D. M. GARRETT. 

